Enzo Maresca has insisted Gianluigi Donnarumma will keep his place as Manchester City's first-choice goalkeeper despite Geronimo Rulli's heroics in their Carabao Cup victory over Brighton.
Rulli saved two penalties as the holders won Wednesday's shootout 4-3 following a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium.
The Argentina international also made important saves during normal time as City twice recovered from falling behind.
His impressive performance came with Donnarumma watching from the stands after a series of recent errors had drawn scrutiny.
But Maresca left no room for doubt over his selection when Brighton return for Saturday's Premier League meeting, making clear that Rulli's cup display had not changed the goalkeeping hierarchy.
The City manager praised his deputy's work with the ball against Brighton's aggressive pressing before confirming Donnarumma would return.
"Apart from penalties, overall he was good especially in the build-up," Maresca said of Rulli.
"It was not easy because they are a team that go man to man and are aggressive.
"In the first half, we tried some long solutions with Floyd [Samba] and then in the second half we tried on the floor with Phil [Foden].
"He made one good save and was good. He is working well but Rulli knows exactly his role, there is no doubt about that. Saturday it will be Gigio plus 10."
Rulli joined City during the summer after James Trafford departed for Leeds, having been unable to displace Donnarumma under Pep Guardiola.
Donnarumma has since become one of City's four captains, although his recent mistakes had given added interest to Rulli's opportunity.
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The understudy helped secure a home quarter-final against League One Bradford with successive shootout saves from Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk.
Those interventions rescued City after Mateo Kovacic failed to convert their fourth penalty. Phil Foden, Enzo Fernandez, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki all scored.
Maresca revealed afterwards that his players had reached the last eight without rehearsing spot-kicks during his time in charge.
"To be honest, since I've been here we never practiced penalties," he said.
"We're very happy with the five, even Mateo. It always happens, the one that scored during the 90 minutes, and then misses the penalty."
Kovacic had earlier brought City level after Malick Yalcouye opened the scoring, only for Georginio Rutter to restore Brighton's advantage after the interval.
Rulli then tipped a Rutter effort onto the bar before the forward also fired into the side-netting as the visitors threatened to pull away.
Doku's introduction helped lift City, while Vitor Reis diverted in Cherki's free-kick to force the shootout.
Maresca had made nine changes and rested several senior players, including Erling Haaland, Ruben Dias, Elliot Anderson and Josko Gvardiol alongside Donnarumma.
Despite needing penalties to progress, he defended the rotation and praised those selected.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, whose side showed seven changes, felt his players had created enough chances to win and urged them to respond on Saturday.
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